ACC ~ Romans 14 v16

A SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION OF “GOOD IS SPOKEN OF AS EVIL.” ORIGEN: How is it possible for what is good to us to be spoken of as evil? “What is good to us” refers here to the spiritual interpretation of the law, avoiding the ungodly and foolish teachings of the heretics and of those engaged in false philosophy concerning unclean and polluted food. This is what is enjoined by the spiritual law. But a Jew, for example, or one of the so-called Encratites might think that in order to believe in Christ it is necessary to practice celibacy or abstinence from certain types of food and might quote Scripture in support of this. If you then insist that in order for such a person to be saved or to come to Christ he must eat everything, including the food from which he abstains, the good element in the spiritual law is blasphemed, because he will think that eating such food is an essential part of our faith, when in fact it is a matter of indifference. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

BLASPHEMING GOD’S TEACHING. AMBROSIASTER: Since God’s teaching is good and salutary, it should not be blasphemed, because of something trivial. Yet it is blasphemed when doubts are cast on the goodness of God’s creation. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

OECUMENIUS: Even if you are teaching correctly, your argument may become the cause of blasphemy. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

DO NOT CAUSE GOOD DOCTRINE TO BE SPOKEN EVIL OF. CHRYSOSTOM: By “what is good to you” Paul means either their faith, or the hope of reward in the hereafter, or the perfection of their religious state. For it is not just that you fail to do anything to help your brother, Paul says, but you even cause the doctrine itself, the grace of God and his gift, to be spoken evil of. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 26.

DO NOT FLAUNT CHRISTIAN FREEDOM. PELAGIUS: What is good is our freedom, which we have in the Lord, so that everything is clean to us. We should not use our freedom in such a way that we appear to be living for the stomach and for feasts. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

AVOID CAUSING ANOTHER’S DESTRUCTION. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul is saying that he praises their faith but does not want it to become the cause of cursing and damnation. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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